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Automotive · head to head

Cars.com vs DealerTrack

Cars.com logo

Cars.com

Automotive

Your trusted automotive marketplace

From
$299/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DealerTrack logo

DealerTrack

Automotive

Elevate your dealership operations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cars.com cars.com charges shoppers nothing; it is a free listings site monetised via dealer advertising, per the 31 Dec 2020 archive capture; DealerTrack dealertrack (a Cox Automotive brand) publishes no pricing on its own coxautoinc.com/brands/dealertrack page for its DMS, F&I, CRM or registration/titling products; every product card ends in a Request a demo or Contact us link instead of a figure.
  • They diverge on capability: Cars.com covers Vehicle listing, DealerTrack covers F&I management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cars.com and DealerTrack actually diverge.

Attributes where Cars.com and DealerTrack differ
AttributeCars.comDealerTrack
Starting price$299/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, AppWeb, Mobile, Desktop
Founded19981990

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Automotive).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cars.com

  • Vehicle listing
  • Marketplace access
  • Lead generation
  • Dealer profile
  • Performance tracking
  • Mobile responsive
  • Photo and video gallery
  • Consumer research tools

Only in DealerTrack

  • F&I management
  • Compliance automation
  • Document templates
  • Customer portal
  • Lender integration
  • Warranty management
  • Product solutions
  • Reporting & analytics

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cars.com

  • Dealership Management
  • Service Scheduling
  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Operations
  • Customer Relationship

DealerTrack

  • Dealership Management
  • Service Scheduling
  • Inventory Management
  • Sales Operations
  • Customer Relationship

Both are used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations, customer relationship, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cars.com

  • Cars.com charges shoppers nothing; it is a free listings site monetised via dealer advertising, per the 31 Dec 2020 archive capture

DealerTrack

  • Dealertrack (a Cox Automotive brand) publishes no pricing on its own coxautoinc.com/brands/dealertrack page for its DMS, F&I, CRM or registration/titling products; every product card ends in a Request a demo or Contact us link instead of a figure.

Pricing, plan by plan

Cars.com

$299/month
  • Basic$299/month
    • Vehicle listings
    • Marketplace visibility
    • Basic lead management
  • Standard$699/month
    • Everything in Basic
    • Advanced lead tools
    • CRM integration
  • Premium$1199/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • Priority placement
    • Marketing support

DealerTrack

On request
  • Standard$undefined/month
    • F&I management
    • Compliance tools
    • Document automation
  • Professional$undefined/month
    • Everything in Standard
    • Advanced compliance
    • Custom workflows
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Professional
    • Multi-location support
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Cars.com if

  • You need vehicle listing.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, App.
  • You also want marketplace access.
Cars.com review

Choose DealerTrack if

  • You need f&i management.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Desktop.
  • You also want compliance automation.
DealerTrack review

Questions people ask

Is Cars.com or DealerTrack better?
Neither clearly leads. Cars.com starts at $299/month and DealerTrack at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cars.com or DealerTrack?
Cars.com starts at $299/month and DealerTrack at On request.
Does Cars.com or DealerTrack run on more platforms?
Cars.com runs on Web, Mobile, App. DealerTrack runs on Web, Mobile, Desktop.
What is Cars.com best used for?
Cars.com is most often used for dealership management, service scheduling, inventory management, sales operations.
What can Cars.com do that DealerTrack cannot?
Cars.com covers Vehicle listing, Marketplace access, Lead generation, Dealer profile. DealerTrack covers F&I management, Compliance automation, Document templates, Customer portal.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cars.com: Is Cars.com free to use?

Yes. Cars.com is a free platform for shopping, researching, and comparing vehicles. Access to new, used, and certified pre-owned listings, expert reviews, safety recall information, and car payment calculators requires no subscription.

Source
Cars.com: Can I sell my car on Cars.com for free?

Yes. Cars.com offers free listings for private sellers. The platform also provides tools to obtain instant cash offers for vehicles at no cost.

Source
Cars.com: Does Cars.com charge dealers for listings?

The homepage mentions free listing options but does not specify dealer pricing. For dealer advertising rates and premium listing options, you would need to visit the dealer section or contact Cars.com directly.

Source
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